The Surfer
Truth, exclusives and the survival game
In these times of celebrity journalism, exclusive stories and the need to give more than the competitors, the job of a reporter is not to be envied, writes Pradeep Magazine in the Hindustan Times
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
In these times of celebrity journalism, exclusive stories and the need to give more than the competitors, the job of a reporter is not to be envied, writes Pradeep Magazine in the Hindustan Times. Magazine feels the reporter is now forced to unearth more "inside" information, and that that may indeed compromise his or her integrity. The sooner they find the middle path, if there exists one, the better.
Full postMacGill casting a hefty shadow
In the Sydney Morning Herald , Andrew Webster ponders whether after all those years in Shane Warne's shadow Stuart MacGill is now casting a somewhat larger shadow of his own.
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Andrew Webster ponders whether after all those years in Shane Warne's shadow Stuart MacGill is now casting a somewhat larger shadow of his own.
As the eccentric leg-spinner nudged chicken skewers around a barbie and tipped expensive riesling down his throat at a sponsor's function in the mid-arvo sun, it was hard not to notice what some observers had murmured during the drawn Pura Cup match between NSW and Queensland. That MacGill was carrying more than the weight of expectation. "There is no doubt I am overweight," MacGill admitted to the Herald. "I don't know how far over I am. I just don't feel all that comfortable at the moment."
Meanwhile, in the Herald Sun, Jon Pierik rates MacGill and his rival for a Test spot, Brad Hogg.
And in the Age John Buchanan, who has a new book coming out, speaks to Martin Blake about his time as Australia’s coach.
Full postMacGill as flat as yesteday's lemonade
In the Sydney Morning Herald , Peter Roebuck discusses Stuart MacGill's disappointing bowling effort for New South Wales against Queensland
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Roebuck discusses Stuart MacGill's disappointing bowling effort for New South Wales against Queensland. Roebuck says MacGill was "as flat as yesterday's lemonade".
Stuart MacGill did not look much like taking a wicket until it was too late to matter, whereupon a lower-order man tried something more often seen on Moore Park. Admittedly the pitch was slow and the batsmen were set but a bowler of his class ought to trouble modest opponents battling to save a match on any surface. Instead, his work lacked sparkle and his opponents were able to counter him comfortably off front and back foot.
In the Daily Telegraph, Steve Waugh chooses his preferred Test XI for this summer and suggests Australia made a mistake by axing Simon Katich from the national contract list.
Full postFear not, cricket widows
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The Australian summer is upon us but not everyone shares the excitement of watching cricket day in, day out. For those cricket widows, Laura Demasi has provided a "girl's guide" to the sport at one of Sydney Morning Herald's blogs:
Cricket is like hay fever; a seasonal affliction that consumes its victims relentlessly; chewing up days and weeks of your life. And an obscenely unfair share of household TV time.
Throwing a Katich amongst the pigeons
Just when Australia's selectors thought they could pencil in their Test batting order, Simon Katich has confused matters with 306 for New South Wales against Queensland, as Peter Roebuck reports in the Sydney Morning Herald .
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Just when Australia's selectors thought they could pencil in their Test batting order, Simon Katich has confused matters with 306 for New South Wales against Queensland, as Peter Roebuck reports in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Katich damn near scored 200 in a session. Feats of this sort are not supposed to be possible in this era of athletic fielding, slower over rates and persistent seamers. It was all a reminder that cricket does not change all that much. It is still a battle between bat and ball. A long hop remains a long hop whether delivered by in 1929-30 by Pud Thurlow or in 2007 by Mitchell Johnson (who must at times have regretted leaving his plumber's round). A flat pitch is still a flat pitch. And capitulation is still capitulation.
In the Herald Sun, Jon Anderson looks at the end of one of Australian cricket's longest feuds, between Rodney Hogg and Graham Yallop.
Full post'Rest' assured for Rahul Dravid
Sandipan Deb examines why Rahul Dravid gave up the job of India captain and hopes Dravid's enforced absence from the side will help him get back to his best
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Sandipan Deb examines why Rahul Dravid gave up the job of India captain and hopes Dravid's enforced absence from the side will help him get back to his best. Read the full piece in the Indian Express
But the batting masterclass that he thought he would be able to reach again now that the captaincy was off his back has not yet opened its doors to him.
But who knows, perhaps getting dropped for a few games will be the best thing that has happened to Dravid in a long time. It gives him time to relax, and get his mind back in order. For there is nothing wrong with Rahul Dravid except inside his mind. He needs a holiday and he’s got one.
In the Times of India, Bobilli Vijay Kumar wonders whether Dravid has become a victim of his own image.
Being left out from the team has also got Dravid thinking about the weight of his bat, reports the Sunday Express.
Full postSmall-town rap
The GenNext of Indian cricket is coming from lesser-known places which makes their struggle to stardom all the more a difficult road, writes Chandresh Narayanan in the Times of India .
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
The GenNext of Indian cricket is coming from lesser-known places which makes their struggle to stardom all the more a difficult road, writes Chandresh Narayanan in the Times of India.
While Uttar Pradesh is turning out to be the big talent supplier, there are others like Mumbai left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah who have had to move out of this state to be noticed. Born in Azamgarh, Abdullah was spotted by his current coach, Mumbai-based Naushad Khan, in a club match.
Also read the story behind Praveen Kumar, the allrounder called up to the Indian one-day squad in the Indian Express and Cricinfo.
Full postIntroducing Hamish Bennett
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Chris Cairns analyses New Zealand's fast-bowling bench strength in the New Zealand Herald and introduces Hamish Bennett, a hope for the future.
Now built more like a reconditioned All Black forward than a fast bowler, Bennett's size and action has more than a passing resemblance to Englishman Steve Harmison - something not lost on Bennett's former age-grade team-mates who often referred to him as 'Harmy'.
Cricketers and their addictions
Past and present cricketers talk frankly about their addictions as the Professional Cricketers Assocaition launch an initiative to assist their members
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Past and present cricketers talk frankly about their addictions as the Professional Cricketers Assocaition launch an initiative to assist their members. Watch on BBC Sport.
Also check out Sadiq Saleem's informal chat with Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik in the Dawn magazine.
Full post